Alaska Airlines Announces New Long-Haul Service From Portland And Los Angeles

Alaska Airlines and Virgin America today announces new daily, nonstop service between Portland, Oregon, and New York’s John F. Kennedy Airport beginning Nov. 6; Portland and Detroit beginning Aug. 30; and Los Angeles and Philadelphia beginning Sept. 1. This added service provides flyers greater access to two New York metropolitan area airports – JFK and Newark. JFK is the country’s busiest international gateway, and is a prime jumping off point for customers traveling to Europe and beyond on Alaska Global Partners including British Airways, Icelandair and Condor. Members of the Alaska Mileage Plan can earn and redeem miles when flying on one of Alaska’s global airline partners to over 900 destinations around the globe. With the new service to Detroit, Alaska Airlines will offer the only daily, year-round nonstop service from Portland to the Motor City, home to auto industry giants such as General Motors and Ford Motor Company. The new Los Angeles-Philadelphia flight builds on the 27 new markets the combined airline has added from California, since merging with Virgin America in December. Virgin America previously served this market from April 2012 to October 2014.

Scotland Formally Requests New Independence Referendum

A letter informing Prime Minister Theresa May of the Scottish government’s official request to hold a second independence referendum has been delivered to Downing Street. Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon signed the Section 30 letter requesting transfer of powers to Holyrood on Friday morning. May’s government has already said it will decline the request, however. “As you are aware, the Scottish Parliament has now determined by a clear majority that there should be an independence referendum,” Sturgeon wrote. “The purpose of such a referendum is to give people in Scotland the choice of following the UK out of the EU and single market on the terms you negotiate, or becoming an independent country, able to chart our own course and build a genuine partnership of equals with the other nations of the UK. On Tuesday Scottish MSPs voted 69 to 59 in favor of requesting another referendum, which would be held sometime between autumn 2018 and spring 2019.

Britain Triggers Brexit

Forbes reports on the how in which the EU and the UK must begin the complicated process of untangling from each other’s affairs. With Great Britain triggering Brexit negotiations, the many strands to be unwound from the tightly woven UK-European Union carpet apparently will include Europe’s highly popular low-cost airlines, including Easyjet and Ryanair, as well as traditional carriers as their ability to fly as freely as before could be sharply restricted once the UK is on its own. Prime Minister Theresa May has indicated that she intends a “hard” exit, meaning leaving the single market and moving her country outside the purview of the European Court of Justice (ECJ), and therein lies the problem for the aviation industry. The ECJ has ultimate jurisdiction over European aviation law, and the UK would have to agree to the unlikely scenario of submitting to its authority. It’s just one of the literally innumerable economic, financial, business, judicial, social, and cultural sectors, to name a few. in which the EU and the UK must begin the complicated process of untangling from each other’s affairs. European Commission negotiators reportedly have warned British airline officials that post-exit, the U.K. airlines as currently structured would have to curtail various services, including flights between European cities. In that scenario, they would be restricted to flights between British and European cities only. Lead the full article here:

CNN reports that US passenger rail travel is subsidized by federal funding. The threat of budget cuts has been hanging over less profitable lines for a number of years. Amtrak CEO and President Wick Moorman says that budget cuts could potentially impact 500 communities. These trains connect our major regions, provide vital transportation to residents in rural communities and generate connecting passengers and revenue for our Northeast Corridor and State-Supported services. It is not known yet if the proposed budget will be approved by Congress, or even how those cuts might be implemented. But from the 1950s onwards, many railroads have been driven out of business due to the rise of the motor car and of the airline industry. The long-distance lines might well be running out of track. Amtrak operates 15 long-distance trains across the nation and these routes offer the only Amtrak service in 23 of the 46 states served. In fiscal year 2016, numbers on Amtrak’s 15 long-distance lines were up 3.7% versus the year before, with close to 4.7 million riders. Should cuts to long-distance funding go ahead, the money could be directed instead to the busier Northeast Corridor lines, which served close to 12 million riders in fiscal year 2016.

American Cruise Lines Announces Name for 2018 Coastal Cruise Ship

A new coastal cruise ship coming from American Cruise Lines in 2018 will be named American Constitution, the line announced last Thursday. The name for the 175-passenger ship, which is currently under construction at the company’s shipyard, Chesapeake Shipbuilding in Salisbury, Md., is inspired by the USS Constitution, the US Navy’s oldest commissioned naval vessel afloat. It will continue the company’s hallmark of having larger-than-average cabins with private balconies, as well as multiple lounges. American Constitution will be a sister ship to American Constellation, which will launch in May 2017. American Constellation is sailing a new itinerary for the company, Grand New England, which visits small Northeast ports such as Martha’s Vineyard, Provincetown, and Boothbay Harbor, Maine. Itineraries for American Constitution have not been released, but the company said that it’s expanding in the Pacific Northwest and Alaska next year. Full details on the 2018 schedule will be released soon.

U By Uniworld Changes Age Range To 21-45

Uniworld is launching a new brand, U by Uniworld, designed for ages 21-45. The starting price for one week on U By Uniworld is $1,699 per person, based on double occupancy, significantly lower than Uniworld’s all-ages luxury river cruises. Described as “semi-inclusive,” U fares include free Wi-Fi, one shore excursion each day, breakfast and dinner but no lunch. Another difference is that excursions will be active, with some taking place at night. Options include an evening bike ride along the Danube, a “Midnight in Paris” stroll, a canal cruise in Amsterdam, vineyard hikes and a street art walk. Many of the cruises are also timed to coincide with events such as Oktoberfest and the Sziget Festival. Drinks packages will be sold, with pricing yet to be finalized. U By Uniworld cruises will be operated on the renovated 116-passenger ships, River Baroness and River Ambassador. They will also feature onboard activities such as silent discos, yoga, and painting, cooking and mixology classes. The sun deck will receive a new “cafe-bar” venue, as well as an open-air movie screen. Another new feature being planned is a smartboard where passengers can leave messages about meeting up for drinks or going ashore together. The company is also looking at ways to help passengers connect before their cruise, most likely on the website or social media. The last-minute move to slightly older passengers was a response to listening to customers and travel agent partners. U By Uniworld is aimed at “young professionals who have a bit of money, who want to travel, and want to meet and hang out with people like them. U By Uniworld bookings open next week, and sailings will start early 2018 (dates to be confirmed).

New World-Class Attraction Coming To Old Port Of Montreal

Starting this June, Montrealers and visitors to the city can soar to a unique vantage point between the city and the river on Montreal’s Observation Wheel. Designed especially for Montreal, this new attraction, already under construction on Île Bonsecours in the Old Port, will generate significant tourism and economic benefits for the metropolitan region. The wheel will be the highest observation wheel in Canada and third highest in the United States and Canada , rising 60 meters above ground, with a view stretching 28 km. It will be in in operation year round, whatever the weather, from 10 am to 11 pm. There will be 42 temperature-controlled gondolas that can seat 8 comfortably, during three revolutions, for a total of 15 minutes. The Old Port is a unique, must-see destination for visitors and with this new observation wheel, created through a major private sector investment on this federal site, the city will once again be at the forefront creating unique activities that complement Montreal’s tourism offers.

Tourisme Montréal’s Passeport MTL Is Now Available

Tourisme Montréal is relaunching Passeport MTL, a single card for discovering Montréal’s top attractions. The card gives users access to 23 attractions and unlimited public transportation using the Société de transport de Montréal (STM) network, which includes the 747 bus that runs between Montréal-Trudeau airport and downtown.

Valid until March 31, 2018, Passeport MTL represents more than $300 in admissions to the 23 attractions: Montreal Museum of Fine Arts, Pointe-à-Callière, Montréal Archaeology and History Complex, McCord Museum, Grévin Montréal Museum, Musée d’art contemporain de Montréal, are just a few of the attractions. You can get the passport here: